SECAUCUS – Free tree seedlings will be available to Secaucus residents on Saturday, May 3 at the Green Festival as part of the New Jersey Tree Recovery Campaign. This program helps communities replace trees damaged or destroyed by Superstorm Sandy.

From 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 3, residents will be able to pick up tree seedlings at the Green Festival which will be held on the grounds of the XChange, 5000 Riverside Station Boulevard. Seedlings, available on a first come, first served basis, come with instructions on how to store, care for, and plant them. The guides help residents choose the right place on a property to plant a tree while keeping in mind the tree’s full-grown size in the future. Residents should plant the seedlings within two days after pick-up in order to prevent the roots from drying out.

The goal of the Tree Recovery Campaign is to distribute over 500,000 tree seedlings to New Jersey residents over the course of the next five years. It is a joint effort between Secaucus and the New Jersey State Forestry Services Community Forestry Program, The State Forest Nursery, New Jersey Soil Conservation Districts, Sustainable Jersey, and the Arbor Day Foundation. Arbor Day Foundation, FedEx, and BJ’s Wholesale Club provide financial support for the program.

When properly planted and maintained, trees can be assets to a community. They improve the visual appeal of a neighborhood or business district, increase property values, reduce home cooling costs, remove air pollutants, and provide wildlife habitat, among many other benefits. --Art Schwartz